Police, retailers work to develop website on shoplifting

ROCHESTER — As city police work to curb the growing number of shoplifting cases, they are working with local retailers to develop a website containing information on suspected retail thieves.

Police Capt. Paul Toussaint said retailers such as Kohl’s, Kmart, Walmart, and Lowe’s have shown interest in participating in the new initiative, which would be available to the businesses at no cost.

The website would enable participating retailers to share information on shoplifting incidents at their establishments, including descriptions of suspects and their vehicles, as well as license plate numbers.

Toussaint said a designer for the website project has already been identified, and the next step is deciding the domain name for the site.

This data would enable the retailers to identify potential repeat offenders and organized retail thieves.

Police Chief Mike Allen said organized shoplifting has grown across the country, and Rochester is no exception.

“It’s a big business. There is a big black market for the items,” he said.

Allen said often-used items, such as clothing, baby formula and small electronics, have generally been targeted the most by organized shoplifters.

So far this year, the number of reported shoplifting cases has increased by 37 percent in the city, but it’s difficult to tell what proportion of those cases involved organized retail theft, said Allen.

Many shoplifters commit retail theft more than one time, he said.

While 160 shoplifting cases were reported through November of last year, there have been 219 cases reported through November of this year.

Allen said while the city has seen a significant rise in shoplifting, area retailers are also reporting those instances to police more often, and police are making more arrests.

The number of arrests pertaining to shoplifting have risen by 24 percent — 134 arrests were made through November 2011, compared to 166 arrests for shoplifting through November 2012.

“Stores are reporting shoplifting incidents more, so we’re making more apprehensions as a result,” said Allen.

He said Rochester police have also been working with local stores to develop theft prevention strategies, such as keeping most-targeted items under surveillance, and having sufficient lighting.

Despite the increase in shoplifting cases, burglary has gone down so far this year.

Through November, there have been 135 reports of burglaries, compared to 157 reports through the same time last year — a decrease of 14 percent.

Allen attributed fewer burglaries to police engaging with local residents through ward meetings and interaction on the street.

On a regular basis, police officers park their vehicles and walk, interacting with people who may appear out of place, or talking to residents about any suspicious activity they may have witnessed, said Toussaint.

Allen said Rochester officers have conducted about 52 percent more field interviews so far this year, compared to last year.

Engaging residents, he said, makes it more likely that crime is reported.

“Police can’t reduce and prevent crime alone,” said Allen.

Throughout the past year, Rochester police have also been reminding residents to keep their car doors locked. Through November, the number of reported thefts from vehicles went up by 52 percent over last year.

More than 90 percent of those thefts were from unlocked vehicles, said Allen.

“If people locked their cars we would have a lot less thefts from motor vehicles,” he said.